Atlanta Hawks: Catching up (again) with Al Horford
Caught up with Al Horford again, this time at Oglethorpe University during his summer camp for kids. The scene was about as loud and hectic as you might think. It’s always good for me to be reminded of why I don’t have (or want) any kids.
“The parents love it,” Horford said. “The kids do all this running around, and they are worn out when the parents come pick them up. They go right to sleep.”
The reports are that Al didn’t just lend his name to the camp like some athletes are known to do, but was hands-on with the kids. His father, Tito, helped out, too, running the kids through some drills. Bibby was there on Thursday.
Al held a camp in Michigan last summer and has two scheduled in the Dominican Republic next month, but this was his first local camp.
“This is my third year here so I figured I should do something here in Atlanta, [especially] since I live here, too,” Al said.
Before succumbing to the apparently A/C-less gym and those rambunctious rugrats, I managed to talk some business with Al. He offered insights on J.J.’s re-signing (good), Atlanta’s search for a center (important), a potential contract extension (no hurry) and the Heat loading up in Atlanta’s division (challenging).
Al said he’s happy the team re-signed Joe. He’s on board with ASG and Rick Sund’s philosophy that the Hawks still have the potential to get better so they had to keep pushing forward.
“I agree,” he said. “Everything is going well. Guys are still getting better. I think that is important to keep the team together. Like [Sund] said, we definitely don’t want to take a step back. It’s tough to build in this league.”
Atlanta is looking to add a center. I think that will happen through free agency rather than a trade. There are no indications the Hawks are actively seeking to trade any of their core guys but, like any team, they would listen to any offers that come their way.
They’d have to be very good offers, though. The Hawks still think this group can get better, and their focus is adding pieces to it, not “addition by subtraction,” Sund said. In other words, he’s not going to break up the core for a so-so trade.
Sund said the focus would getting bigs for the last three roster spots. That’s good news to Al, who thinks the Hawks definitely need to acquire a bona fide center.
“We need to get another big guy, another center, that’s able to help myself and Josh out,” he said. “We need to have someone to come in and have an impact. I think that is the position we need if we want to be any type of contender in the East.”
Al said he doesn’t necessarily mean getting a center to supplant him as the starter so he can move to power forward. Rather, it could be a scenario where the new center plays a lot of minutes and L.D. can mix and match from among the new guy, Al, Josh, Zaza and any other big guys Sund adds (a Jason Collins return is a possibility if he gets in better shape).
“I don’t have a problem splitting time [at center],” Al said. “I played a little four last year with Zaza in the game at the same time and I thought that was good. I know I am going to still play the five.”
He said he’s fine with that (it seems odd that an All-Star has to say that). He said he knows some fans and media seem to be more concerned about his position than him. But the way he sees it the Hawks have to play to their strengths, which includes a lineup with him at center.
“I think we create a lot of problems when have an athletic lineup with Josh at the four, me at the five and Marvin at the three,” Al said. “I think we create serious problems for people. I think that is one of our strengths as a team is we are so versatile.”
L.D. has talked about making better use of those advantages in the new offense and defense. Al said he hasn’t had that discussion with L.D. yet: “I am really interested to see what he is going to do as far as that.”
It’s also going to be interesting to see what the Hawks do as far as Al’s contract extension. The Hawks can offer him one that begins in 2011-12 and is worth up to five years and $82 million. The deadline for a deal is Oct. 31.
Al had said he knew the Hawks would take care of J.J. first. Now that they did, would he like to talk to them about an extension?
“We’ll see,” he said. “If the time is right. It is something that I will have to talk to my agent about. I know that the priority for the team was to re-sign Joe. We will see what happens the rest of the summer as far as the free agents if they are trying to get anybody else.”
The CBA complicates things for both Al and the Hawks. Atlanta will get the chance to retain Al’s rights as a restricted free agent next summer, but then what will free agency look like in the new labor deal? If Al signs an extension now it takes away some uncertainty but he can’t know now if he would be better off as a free agent.
“I really can’t get too caught up in that,” he said. “I really just have to go out and play. If something happens and I get an extension, great. If it doesn’t, I just have to keep playing and keep getting better.”
As for Miami, everyone seems to be predicting they will become an instant juggernaut due to the SuperFriends. They still have a lot of roster spots to fill but at this point is anyone wiling to doubt Pat Riley? Dude re-signs Wade, adds the other two stars and then carves out enough cap space to sign Mike Miller by sending away former No. 2 pick Michael Beasley for peanuts–a draft mistake that hardly anyone cares about anymore.
Assuming the Heat keeps building the roster with useful players, the Hawks could find themselves the third-best team in their division.
“This division is probably the toughest one,” Al said.
MC
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281 comments Add your comment
OK
July 10th, 2010
7:59 am
I can’t BELEIVE Mo Evans thought his contract was UNDERVALUED. I’m sick of his constant pouting on the bench for playing time. Maybe if he actually learned as skill like dribbling or how to make a layup I wouldn’t mind his over-inflated ego. But that is not the case. He has one of the funkyest jumpers side from josh childress.
Luke Jackson and Pape Sy are bigger, can shoot better and can dribble/make plays for others. Bye Bye Mo “I’m selfish and overrated” Evans
He didn’t opt out because no one, I repeat NO ONE would want him if he did.
Just look at that fool Richard Jefferson. Opted out of his final year worth 15mill thinking he was gonna get some of that Free Agent Frenzy chash lol. Without Joshon Kidd he’s no better that Marvin lol. Heck, AT LEAST Marvin can shoot a little! Teams arent even willing to give jefferson more than the MLE. Even the sorry teams like NY wih cap space lol!
Players and their ego’s man, SMH.
OK
July 10th, 2010
7:59 am
Are some of you really calling for Matt Barnes? LOL! Dude is not better than Luke Jackson, just give that kid a shot. You will be impressed.
OK
July 10th, 2010
8:02 am
*Jason Kidd
OK
July 10th, 2010
8:13 am
Matt Barnes has had the luxury of playing for very good teams like Mo Evans but anyone with a good basketball eye can see that they are of the same class. Which isn’t saying much. Barnes is just a little bigger and a little older. but he can’t dribble or make layups either. He can shoot if he’s OPEN like Mo SOMETIMES. People PLEASE…
Did you guy’s not see what’s happeneing in Miami? I the words of TLC “NO MORE SCRUBS!”
OK
July 10th, 2010
8:15 am
^Trade Mike Bibby. For a pretzel and a soft drink.
I forgot to add that at the end. My bad.
N-Trigue
July 10th, 2010
8:34 am
MC
Do you think the Hawks are interested in Luis Scola? Oh and Papa Sy is the truth don’t be surprized to see him make the team and take Bibbys mins he’s ready right now remember I said it!
JeJe
July 10th, 2010
9:31 am
This team doesn’t need a defensive perimeter wing…It needs a Jerk…An @$$hole like Matt Banes or Raja Bell.. Mo Evans could be that guy but he’s soft. We need a jerk on this team like an Artest
JoJo the Godfather
July 10th, 2010
9:54 am
A few more offseason ideas:
- Trade of Mike Bibby & Mo Evans to Charlotte for Boris Diaw. Use Diaw as a ball handler, passer & defender at the 3 & 4 off the bench. Charlotte balances out their roster by adding a couple guards on cheaper contracts.
- Free agent signing of Ian Mahinmi (23-yr old C that played in San Antonio last year). Injury & foul prone but extremely athletic. 12th or 13th roster spot could pay off big down the road though.
OK
July 10th, 2010
9:57 am
Boris Diaw! Ahhhhhhh! Nightmares lol. I would rather re-sign Childress than have either Matt Barnes or Diaw on this roster. Ian Mahinmi seems interesting though. I like his motor.
Nate ArchiBALL
July 10th, 2010
10:00 am
Sign Shaq and/or Kwame Brown. Then flip a coin between Jason Collins and Randolph Morris. Kwame fits the athletic mold of this team. Kwame’s stats are very similar to ZaZa’s plus his salary is much lower.
One thing to consider, the offense will change when Shaq is playing with the starters The team becomes less athletic and some what out of synch (slowing the team down from time to time may not be a bad thing)
Hawks also need to take a real long look at Shaun Livingston as a backup PG.
OK
July 10th, 2010
10:01 am
Now Josh Childress can play Defense! 1-3 positions as well. Why don’t we just try to make amends with the guy? Based on what Miami is doing, we could use all the help we can get.
O'Brien
July 10th, 2010
10:01 am
According to hoopshype.com, After signing Kyle korver (3 years, $15 mil), bulls signed JJ redick to a 3 years $19 mil (front loaded) offer sheet. I wonder if Orlando will match.
Another Guy I like (Anthony morrow from GS) has signed a 3 years $12 mil offer with the nets. He played at GT, went undrafted, and we didn’t see what GS did. Will golden state match?
With the high price for free agent shooters, maybe gladyr can be our shooter.
OK
July 10th, 2010
10:08 am
O’Brien, Agreed.
I didn’t realize how bad Gerald Green sucked until I watched him play in summerleague for LA yeasterday. But that kid Devin Ebanks can ball. Dude showed out!
JoJo the Godfather
July 10th, 2010
10:08 am
Diaw in the “Mo Evans” role is a huge upgrade especially in a ball-motion offense. He’s a solid defender at multiple positions, handles the ball like a PG, and averages over 4 assists and 5 rebs a game…The biggest plus to this trade would be balancing out our roster. We move Bibby & Evans, which allows for a defensive-minded or starting PG to be added, in exchange for a solid 3/4 guy off the bench.
Big Ray
July 10th, 2010
10:11 am
Glad to see Al has confidence in himself in the center position. He just has to play tougher, is all.
Now if we can just add Shaq or some credible center type to play. I’d take Shaq, but who knows if this will really happen.
JoJo the Godfather
July 10th, 2010
10:12 am
OK…signing Childress adds significant salary. Trading for a guy to fill that role and adding salary at other positions might make more sense. I like Childress too, but its looking more and more like the Hawks will let him walk or try to trade him for cheaper parts/picks.
Big Ray
July 10th, 2010
10:16 am
Diaw could actually play, and was very versatile. He just hated playing for Woody and has self esteem issues.
Pape Sy is in the Diaw mold (can handle the ball and make passes), but early reports suggest he’s more aggressive.
Big Ray
July 10th, 2010
10:16 am
JoJo ,
I’m hoping for a trade. I hate to see him walk… again .
Big Ray
July 10th, 2010
10:18 am
Bulls are building things up. I don’t think we’ll be able to walk all over them like we did last year.
JeJe
July 10th, 2010
10:29 am
Miami is gonna go after these guys:
Other veteran free agents who could be on the Heat’s radar: Raja Bell, Yakhouba Diawara, Keyon Dooling, Devean George, Mike James, Jarvis Hayes, Eddie House, Jawan Howard, Larry Hughes, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Flip Murray, Chris Quinn, Brian Skinner, Etan Thomas, Ben Wallace and Jason Williams.
Pretty solid list. Still think we could get Damien Wilkins for nothing
Android
July 10th, 2010
10:30 am
Quite simple if one thinks about it, to strengthen this club, four things take place.
1.Deal to Minnesota:
Marvin Williams
Mike Bibby
Acquire from Minn:Al Jefferson.
re-sign J.Childress
sign U.Haslem.
and Matt Barnes.
OK
July 10th, 2010
10:32 am
JoJo/Ray, After reading your explanation, it makes more sense. Diaw left me with bad vibes after his stint in Atlanta and he didn’t play too well in the playoffs last season, but It seems like a win/win trade. Self-esteem issues seemed to have been the main theme in Woodsons tenure with the Hawks. Thank God that clown is outta here!
I’d hate to see Chills leave for nothing, but at this point, draft picks may be the way to go.
Android
July 10th, 2010
10:33 am
or replace Barnes, with J Farmar
Android
July 10th, 2010
10:34 am
My line-up
Teague
Johnson
Smoove
Jefferson
Horford!
JoJo the Godfather
July 10th, 2010
10:40 am
Diaw’s playoff series really upset the Charlotte fans with his 1 for 9 from 3 and 3 turnovers a game…If you look past that though, he also avgd 7.5pts, 5 rebs & 4 assts per game on 50% shooting from the floor…Compare that to what Marvin Williams did for us against that same Orlando team: 6.3 pts, 4.5 rebs, 0.3 assts on 30% shoting from the floor (0 for 1 from 3 with no turnovers).
Big Ray
July 10th, 2010
10:41 am
OK ,
I think the rap on Woody was that he wasn’t a confidence builder, and guys who could go either way struggled under him. He allowed a lot, but he didn’t proactively help player development. Nobody will come right out and say that, as they want to be respectful and polite, but the hints have been there.
Big Ray
July 10th, 2010
10:41 am
JoJo the Godfather
Exactly…
JoJo the Godfather
July 10th, 2010
10:43 am
Android…my only problem with that line up is that only 1 guy in your starting 5 can consistently hit a shot from over 15 ft…A big front line would give us fits still.
KevinM
July 10th, 2010
10:46 am
I agree with looking at Minnesota and clear up their logjam.
I also agree with looking and inquiring about Kwame, but really, how much did he help either the Lakers or Detroit? Do you really think he is starting to ‘get it’? I think it is far too late for him to change his habits.
Al Jefferson is intriguing especially in a 1/2 court offense. I know he doesn’t play defense and he has a big contract. But if you can get him in place with Marvin and Bibby, doesn’t that make it less of a risk? Or a straight up Smoove for Al move?
Teague / Joe / Jefferson / Marvin / Horford
That gives Marvin one more shot at proving himself in the offense and gives him another shot at being our defensive presence on the outside. He truly needs to be able to limit the superstars.
Al talks like things are really going forward, but truthfully, we have taken a step back with an unproven coach and just extended a king’s ransom to our #1, who truly is a #2 or 3.
So things aren’t on the uptick IMO until we make a couple of moves.
Ken Strickland
July 10th, 2010
10:51 am
Have you noticed how certain Hawk fans automatically categorize certain players they know nothing about as scrubs, especially if they prefer another player? These are some of the same mentalities that most likely said the same things about Ben Wallace, before Joe Dumars traded for him.
In fact, MBenga is offensive limited, just like Big Ben, he’s very strong and athletic, just like Big Ben, he’s shown the potential to be a good shot blocker and rebounder, just like Big Ben, he’s a legitimate 7′ 255lbs, unlike Big Ben(6′9″ 240lbs), he sat at the end of the bench and got few mins and opportunities, just like Big Ben, he runs the floor very well, just like Big Ben, and we can get him cheaply(he made less than $1M), just like Big Ben.
Of course, one must be able to look beyond his/her personal issues and/or desires and think rationally in order to see or accept his acquisition as a positive. While I can see positives in us acquiring Shaq, his injury history and limited stamina issues would require that he have a backup. In LDrew’s version of a motion OFF, JChildress would be ideal. He’d give us an excellent ball hander, penetrator, passer, defender, rebounder, and a very efficient 3pt shooter and scorer, as well as provide tremendous versatility.
He’d be the glue that holds everything together.
KevinM
July 10th, 2010
11:00 am
But seriously, does anyone seeing Sund making the offer to acquire a big man without touching our ‘core’? I don’t think it is possible, and any move to improve is worth pursuing.
Sounds like we are going to wait out the Shaq opportunity and see if he falls in our lap.
Android
July 10th, 2010
11:02 am
How bout an additional deal that sends Smoove/ Evans to the Nets for Brook Lopez?
PG: Teague
SG:Joe
SF:Jefferson
C:Lopez
PF:Horford
Android
July 10th, 2010
11:05 am
Or just keep Smoove, and scratch the Jefferson deal, and trade Bibby, Childress, and Marvin to the Nest for Lopez?
Teague
Joe
Smoove
Lopez
Horf.
Android
July 10th, 2010
11:05 am
add Mbenga
and Barnes
Back to square 1
July 10th, 2010
11:05 am
Give me a break!
July 10th, 2010
11:01 am
They have to do that to keep Horford’s image up. The rest of the players like Smoove, JJ, Crawford have enough talent to command attention. Horford is average is most categories, less than average in some, and above average in none.
Yea, me too. Id like to hear from the other players and this does seem a bit one side.
Keep your chin up.
Android
July 10th, 2010
11:07 am
Best bet is
sign;
Mbenga
Farmar
Haslem.
Trade:
Smoove for Lopez:
and keep the rest of the core together.
OK
July 10th, 2010
11:07 am
JoJo, I just lost some more respect for marvin after looking at those stats.
Ray, I’m not gonna bash old Pottato head anymore since he’s FINALLY gone. But if I was in Hawks Management, I wouldn’t pull any punches I’d come right out and say it. He needed to be called out. He had to be the most stubborn coach in Hawks history.
KevinM, we ALL know that’s exactly whats going to happen. SMH.
LOL
July 10th, 2010
11:08 am
Worship Horford.
KevinM
July 10th, 2010
11:09 am
Moving Chills should benefit us more than keeping him…realistically, is there a slot for him behind Marvin, Mo and Jamal/Joe? I don’t see him getting more than 10 min/game. And who’s to say he hasn’t regressed over in Greece? Are we talking about someone who may have improved overseas or are we thinking that Chills is as good a player as he left 2 years ago. Plain and simple, he is not as much a need for us as he is an asset to acquire a need. If you bring Chills back, Mo and Jamal probably need to be moved.
That’s one piece that might make sense for us to take a chance on a bloated contract. Minnesota or Washington could use him and give him a bigger opportunity. They have pieces of interest that can improve our playoff performances. LIke an Artest, who didnt do much until the playoffs, we bring in 2 vets who can supply a punch.
Android
July 10th, 2010
11:10 am
or supplant Horf for Smoove in the Nets deal, keep the jefferson deal in place and look like this.
Teague
Joe
Smoove
Lopez
Jefferson.
OK
July 10th, 2010
11:11 am
KenS, Yeah he’d be a legit anchor for that 2nd unit. His play just holds things together. HE does all the little things. I’ve come to really miss that since he’s left, even though we’ve been succesful without him.
Oh yeah, and trade Bibby. That is all.
Mo Too.
Android
July 10th, 2010
11:13 am
Keep our Team as is, and deal Horf, and Chillz to the Nets for Lopez.
Marvin and Evans to Minn for Jefferson.
sign Haslem
Mbenga
Farmar
Android
July 10th, 2010
11:15 am
front line of Smoove, Lopez,Jefferson.
or line of Smoove, Horf, Marvin?
I prefer the first.
Big Ray
July 10th, 2010
11:16 am
Hah! I knew Truth Serum wouldn’t be able to take it. A post on Al Horford (much less a positive one), and he goes bananas, ROFLMBAO!!
“Back to square 1″ , “Give me a break!”, “LOL”….
Same old story. Make a post under a phony name, then make two more under different phony names, agreeing with the first post. Transparent, redundant, and mildly entertaining every once in a while.
Now where’s Grandad to go out and defend his dear little “Hatter”?
Big Ray
July 10th, 2010
11:18 am
Android ,
That’s wishful thinking, my friend. Ain’t gonna happen. Jefferson? Doable, but I heard he’s headed for Cleveland if they can get the deal done (just rumor, but the T-Wolves want that massive Trade Exception the Cavs got from a S&T of Lebron to the Heat).
Lopez? Not gonna happen. You don’t trade away a traditionally sized center that you drafted, and who figures to make the all-star team for several years if he continues to improve.
Big Ray
July 10th, 2010
11:19 am
KevinM ,
Agreed…
JeJe
July 10th, 2010
11:19 am
LOL @ Give Me a Break
Right on.. MC ignores certain questions like what SPECIFIC players we are going after, why he didn’t ask Joe if he considered taking less money. Every single blog is about Horford or about how much money we have to spend, with MC using all this sophisticated salary cap BS that half of us don’t understand.
WHAT ARE MARVIN SMOOVE AND BIBBY DOING THIS SUMMER TO IMPROVE THEIR GAMES?
Android
July 10th, 2010
11:22 am
Big Ray, I know man spot on with ain’t hapning, one b/c Sund is as slow as a damn snail, and two Management just ain’t that aggressive.
ILL-logical
July 10th, 2010
11:23 am
@archiBALL:The idea of signing Kwame is growing on me; maybe he is finally “getting it”.
The biggest change that Coach Drew can/should bring is the emphasis on playoff performance rather than the regular season record. While there is a rational relationship between the two-seeding- the best teamss use the regular season to prepare for the playoffs. And that doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice many wins it means that you establish who and what will be most effective in the three week season called the playoffs where adjustments are required and not optional as under the the previous head coach.
Android
July 10th, 2010
11:24 am
But Shaq, and his hoverround dang sure ain’t an answer.
Chillz for McGee
Jamal, and Bibby for M.Gasol might be an option, but i doubt it.